Collapsible barrel



S. R. PORT.

COLLAPSIBLE BARREL. APPLICATION FILED IUNE4. I9I9.

1,328,587. PaIenIed Jan.2o,192o.

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SAMUEL R PORT @EMI o Grtoznup ILC SAMUEL R. PORT, OF MARTINSVILLE,INDIANA.

COLLAPSIBLE BARREL.

spcification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 20, 19.20.

Application filed June 4, 1919. Serial No. 301,633.

To all 'whom z't may concern.'

Be it known that I, SAMUEL R. PORT, a citizen of the 1United States,residing at Martinsville, in the county of Morgan and State of Indiana,have invented a new and useful Collapsible Barrel, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to collapsible barrels for use in handlingvarious articles of merchandise such as loaves of bread, apples, and thelike, one of the objects of the invention being to provide a simple andinexpensive barrel., which, when not in use, can be flattened out so asto occupy the minimum space.

A further object is to provide a container of this character which canbe quickly set up and the heads of which give the body of the barrel thedesired rigidity and hold it against collapsing.

Another object is to provide simple and enicient means for holding theheads in position.

A further object is to provide a container in which the connecting wiresare seated in the body and heads and thus protected from being brokenoff or pinched when the containers are stacked.

lith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being' understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made within thescope of what is claimed, without departing' from the spirit of theinvention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention hasbeen shown.

In said drawings:

Figure l is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section of abarrel embodying the present improvements.

Fig. 2 is a top plan View, a portion of the head being broken away.

Fig. 8 is a section through a portion of the container.

Referring to the ligures by characters of reference l designates hoopsmade up of strips or wires and to these hoops is secured a series ofparallel wooden staves 2. The wires l project, at one end, beyond one ofthe end staves 2 of the series to form tongues 3 these projecting endsor tongues 3 will lap the opposite ends of the strips and can be heldthereto by bolts l extending through one of the staves and also throughthe ends of the strips. The wires are seated in trans verse grooves 2 inthe staves.

Certain of the staves are cut away at their ends to form recesses ordepressions 5 preferably spaced apart 90 degrees, said depressions beingof a depth equal to the thickness of reinforcing strips 6 which aresecured upon the outer faces of the heads 7 of the barrel. These headsmay be made up of separate pieces of wood nailed or otherwise fastenedto the cross strips 6, the ends of said cross strips projecting' beyondthe periphery of the head and the head being equal to the internaldiameter of the body of the barrel.

Tires 8 are extended longitudinally along the outer faces of the strips6 within the grooves 6 and are held thereto by staples 9 or the like,the ends of the wires beyond the ends of the strips.

Fastened to the body of the barrel adjacent each of the recesses 5 arefasteners 10 preferably held in place by clenching through the staves.The strips l are preferably extended between the recesses 5 and thefasteners 10.

As has heretofore been pointed out, when the barrel is not in use, theends of the strips l can be disconnected after the heads have beenremoved and the body of the barrel flattened'out so that the same willoccupy but little space. Thus it is possible to stack a number ofbarrels in a small compass.

Then it is desired to set up a barrel for use, the ends of the strips lare fastened together by the bolts 4, after which the heads 7 areinserted between the ends of the staves with the projecting ends oi' thestrips 6 bearing within the recesses 5. The fastening wires S are thentwisted in engagement with the adjacent hooks 10 so that the heads willthus be held securely in position, said heads being' maintained at theproper angle to the body by the strips 6 and serving means for holdingthe body of the barrel against collapsing. After the barrel has beenused it can again be collapsed by unfastening the wires 8 from thehooks, uncoupling the ends of the strips l and then flattening out thebody.

By arranging the wires in the grooves 2 and 6 they are prevented frombeing pinched or severed by the weight of the contaiuers when stacked,and are also prevented projecting diameter of the from getting caught inobstructions and being torn loose.

Another advantage resulting from the arranging of the wires within thegrooves is that the Wires act as dowels and prevent the staves fromcreeping longitudinally relative to each other. By thus stifening thewall the barrel will not become distorted when dropped on edge.

lVhat is claimed is:

A collapsible barrel including ieXible strips, parallel staves securedthereto having transverse grooves in which the strips are seated, meansfor detachably connecting together the ends ot each strip to hold thestaves in tubular forni, the ends of certain of the staves being outaway to forni recesses, heads insertible into the ends of the spacesurrounded by the staves, crossed strips secured to the heads and seatedwithin 20 the recesses and having longitudinal grooves, fastening wiresextending longitudinally along the strips upon the heads and within thegrooves and projecting beyond the ends thereof, and nieans upon certainof the staves 2g? for engagement by said wires to fasten the i

